Whimsy by the wayside on Staten Island's Todt Hill Rd.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- Tarzan has abandoned his jungle habitat in favor of the front yard of Alla Shchegol’s home on Todt Hill Road.

Depicted with dagger in mouth, the statue swings from a rope as he peers at a dinosaur lunging toward him. The jungle man made his first appearance in Mrs. Shchegol’s collection four weeks ago.

“I saw the statue online and I knew it would fit in. I figured ‘Jurassic Park’ and Tarzan would go well together,” said Mrs. Shchegol, who began collecting statues when she and her husband, Walter, purchased their Dongan Hills home in 2006.

While cheetahs and cougars sit atop pedestals made by Mr. Shchegol, Tarzan and different species of monkeys hang suspended from trees. Several statutes deviate from the jungle theme, including fairies and cherubs.

The display has caused curious children and adults to stop by the house to get a closer look at the fantastic creatures.

“I love that people enjoy it. People stop by with their kids and ask to put them on the elephants and take photos, and of course I let them do it. It’s all for fun!” said Mrs. Shchegol.

But it’s not all sea shells and balloons: Dr. Mohammad Khalid, president of The Iron Hill Civic Association, said he has received several complaints about the “disruptive, distracting and dangerous statues.”

“As a neighbor, she should be reasonable with us and care for her neighbors. She should realize this is a main road; this is not a zoo. Someday, someone is going to have a head-on collision,” said Dr. Khalid, of Dongan Hills.

He said the statues should be moved from the front yard to the back yard “for the sake of neighborhood safety.”

Charles Stoffers, president of The Todt Hill Civic Association, said he finds the statues to be distracting albeit amusing.

“They’re hard to miss when you drive by. Fortunately, at times, people are caught between the light at Four Corners Road and Circle Road, so they have time to stop and observe. We’re always amused when we drive past. It’s private property, but I do wish there were a spot to stop and admire it,” said Stoffers, of Todt Hill.

Mrs. Shchegol said drivers, who may have sped around the curve, slow down to look at the creatures.

She patiently awaits the arrival of a pterodactyl and a dinosaur with horns atop its head.

“It has become an eclectic collection of iconic characters,” said Stoffers.